In another setback for the country, the Supreme Court has ruled that businesses have the right to turn away LGBTQIA+ customers.
The ruling was handed down on Friday, making way for certain businesses with religious beliefs that reject same-sex relationships to turn away customers who are gay or appear to be. The decision arrives as Pride Month comes to a close, offering a grim reminder of why the LGBTQIA+ community continues to fight for equality within the country.
The case was initially brought to the spotlight by Lorie Smith, a wedding web designer from Colorado who wanted to retain her right to refuse same-sex couples due to her beliefs. The 6-3 vote sided with Smith, concluding that she had the right to refuse anything she disagreed with regarding her business per the First Amendment. Therefore, she will not be prosecuted for discrimination if she turns away any potential clients.
Unfortunately, this ruling not only applies to Smith’s company. The legislation allows for other creative companies to turn away consumers for similar reasons without persecution in the 29 states that have provisions in place to protect LGBTQIA+ residents from such treatment.
Civil rights activists have slammed the Supreme Court for this decision, pointing out that conservatives in the high court have, for the first time, opened the door for antidiscrimination to freely take place without repercussion. Other critics did slam the ruling but argued that its impacts would be small, only applying to businesses that offer custom products.
“Although misguided, today’s decision depends on its limited, uncommon facts: This business owner takes specific commissions, unlike most commercial enterprises that solicit customers widely, and she creates unique artwork for those selected customers,” said Jennifer Pizer, chief legal officer at the LGBTQ group Lambda Legal.
